Spec Me A Bike.

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I need help choosing a bike (if anyone can help)

Ok, I’m female, 5ft10-11ish.

I would like a new bike, I’ve been looking at around £300 (less would be better). I’d like a sit up bike rather than a bike where you lean forward on (I like to see where I am going comfortably).

The lady in the shop said a hybrid bike may be the best option for me; but I am open to ideas. The woman also said for my height I’d probably have to get a mans bike; but I’d rather a woman’s bike if possible.

The bike the woman in the shop spec'd for me was a Trek Hybrid 7100; does anyone have any reviews on this bike or can they give me an opinion on it?

I'm open to any suggestions

 

[the biffster]

i thought you meant BIKE lol
i was going to say gsx1100r or z1300r
not pedal iron try halfords they do
a good range in bikes for all ages and sizes
and they set it all up for you as well

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Sorry, Pedal bike ...

I've been to two shops close to home for a look around (one just ignored what I said and tried to sell me something else); the other one was useful.

I'm going to Halfords for a look around this week - although when I was in a while ago they only had small ladies bikes .

There is also a shop close to where I work so I'll look there too .

 

[Macro]

Are you looking for more of a comfort bike or a fitness bike? If you really want a more upright you may want to take a look at the Trek Womens Navigator 2.0 It's costs more than you stated you want to spend but that seems like the norm in life. At least it might turn you toward comfort bikes if that's what your really after and not a hybrid. You'll still be leaning forward some on a hybrid and they can get a bit uncomfortable if they aren't sized properly.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Are you looking for more of a comfort bike or a fitness bike? If you really want a more upright you may want to take a look at the Trek Womens Navigator 2.0 It's costs more than you stated you want to spend but that seems like the norm in life. At least it might turn you toward comfort bikes if that's what your really after and not a hybrid. You'll still be leaning forward some on a hybrid and they can get a bit uncomfortable if they aren't sized properly.

Comfort I think, well I want to get fit but primarily comfort I think. I'll write the name down and look into it. I don't know how much bikes cost but I don't want to pay a fortune; it just happens the one I looked at was around £300. I definately want an upright one; stuff cool I want to be comfortable. The only problem with womans bikes is the frame size but I'll look in to it.

I'm test riding the hybrid on Saturday but I want to look around at other ones before then too .

 

[chrisbassist]

Where do you plan on riding it?

On road? Off road?

For a low budget like that I would avoid full suspension since at under a grand they tend to be useless.

A hybrid is a mix between a mountain bike and a road bike. If you're only going on road a road bike will be better.

Personally I have a dirt jump bike. On road it really isn't great compared to a proper road bike, but of road it's great.

I wouldn't worry too much about womans vs mend bikes. The main difference has always been womens bikes having a lower top bar to accomodate a skirt. If you're wearing trousers or shorts or whatever it won't make a lot of difference, IMO the whole thing is outdated, they could dispense with the different frames for women. And just offer a greater range of frame sizes.

 

[ian]

If you are a lady, then buy a ladies bike with basket and all

*all said in the style of little britain*

 

[JoshuaA]

If you're still looking dipsy...

I use to be and still am a downhill mountain biker so I did a lot of shopping for parts. Best site I ever found was either wiggle.co.uk or chainreactioncycles.co.uk. If you're looking for a bike your best bet is to go onto either of these sites and then buy LAST YEARS model of a specific bike. For £300 you can usually pick up a £450 up to £600 bike purely because its last years model.

Furthermore... Avoid Halford for buying bikes, rather unreliable as a shop, the workers are generally nice but a lot of them don't know their pedal to the chain. Best advice really is to buy your bike online, shops won't give the same sort of discount.

Also screw the idea of a hybrid and go for a hardtail. With a hardtail it will be a lot more forgiving on your wrists and rear suspension really isn't needed unless you go offroad a lot which I doubt you will.

Hard tail = Front Suspension but No rear suspension.

Personally I have a dirt jump bike. On road it really isn't great compared to a proper road bike, but of road it's great.

I wouldn't worry too much about womans vs mend bikes. The main difference has always been womens bikes having a lower top bar to accomodate a skirt. If you're wearing trousers or shorts or whatever it won't make a lot of difference, IMO the whole thing is outdated, they could dispense with the different frames for women. And just offer a greater range of frame sizes.

Yeh pretty much the nail on the head when it comes to bike frames ^, Chris... I agree Dirt bikes aren't good for road riding however have you ever imagined how painful it is to "road ride" on a downhill bike for 10 miles lol

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I'm still looking.

I went to Halfords last night and had a look around (I really only wanted to go in and ask an opinion).

I'll probably be riding on the road mainly with the occasional off road bit.

Whats your advice on suspension? The man in the shop yesterday (not halfords) said he'd probably not recommend it; my boyfriend said he'd recommend it (I had the worlds most dodgy wrist). Personally I'm not fussed.

I'm going to try a Ridgeback Comet at the weekend (well they've ordered the bigger frame size in for me to 'test ride'). I tried out quite a few yesterday and that felt the most comfortable but I just need help lol.

If you are a lady, then buy a ladies bike with basket and all

*all said in the style of little britain*

Lol I'll happily have one (minus the basket) hehe.

 

[chrisbassist]

On suspension: don't bother with rear suspension, at that budget it will be useless. On the front go for it. It won't be the best but it'll be ok.

If you plan on doing some off road then don't go road bike. They will have no grip at all. So you're looking for a hardtail hybrid really. That'll get you the best for your money.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

On suspension: don't bother with rear suspension, at that budget it will be useless. On the front go for it. It won't be the best but it'll be ok.

If you plan on doing some off road then don't go road bike. They will have no grip at all. So you're looking for a hardtail hybrid really. That'll get you the best for your money.

TBH I dont know what I'll be using it for, I'd imagine 98% of the time road, and 2% off-road

 

[chrisbassist]

Well hybrid will be fine. They're good enough on the road, and will cope ok with off road unless you try really technically challenging downhill routes.

So if it's mostly road but you want to be able to go off road without falling of, go hybrid.

Like I say, on the suspension, by all means get a bike with front suspension, but don't bother with rear, since you'd have to spend over a grand to get decent rear suspension.

In all honesty you could go without any suspension at all since if you stand up to pedal then the suspension can sap the power from your legs instead of transferring it all to the wheels. Which is why road bikes rarely have suspension.

Since I have a Rayleigh book in front of me I'll mention a few of their models.

The pioneer metro range would be ok. Will handle most country lanes and stuff and is in your budget. Either just metro or metro lx.

On a similar level are the pioneer urban. The urban 2 or below should be within budget.

Most of the voyager series should be in budget.

If you don't plan on doing LONG rides you could sway a bit further into mountain bike rather than road. With the AT20 (or 10 or 05) would be in budget.

But you can ride whatever and wherever you want on any bike, just some make certain things a bit easier, like even though I have a dirt jump style bike, I'm planning a 50+ mile ride.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Thank you, I'll have a look when I get home. I have the Rayleigh book at home .

 

[chrisbassist]

No problem, hopefully looking at them will give you some idea of what might be suitable.

Bear in mind I have no idea how good those are since I've not ridden them. But I did consider an mtrax before I settled on my GT.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Thats ok, I'm just looking for ideas at the minute. Incidentally, I left my note with the bike suggestions on at work last night; I’ve now put it in my bag so I have it .

I went to a bike shop last night and they had a nice looking bike in but they wouldn’t order it in for me as if I don’t buy it they’ll be stuck with it…so err how am I supposed to try the bike frame out for size. I understand their problem, but then I can’t try the bike and I can’t see if its comfortable and I’m not giving them money for it without trying it out.

Incidentally that shop is now off my list (they were quite awkward); it used to be the one I’d go to all the time but now I’ll not be going back; they’ve just lost one customer, £300+ and lots of recommendations. GRR!

I'm off to another bike shop tonight; they make customised and specialist bikes (I'm aware these will be highly priced; I just want to go and ask questions and see if they have different frame sizes to try out).

I work with a guy who is heavily into cycling and he said he wouldn't have thought I'd need bigger than a 19" frame as that is what he uses (he's 6 foot 3); I'm 5 foot 10-11; but the man in the bike shop was saying womens bike frames are made for longer legs and mens for longer bodies. I tried a 20" last night and it was an inch or so too small....Being tall sucks!